Putting an Oil Spill Cleanup Computer Model to Work for the Navy

A research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has completed the first phase of the development of a computer assisted model for analyzing complex decisions and policies regarding oil spill cleanup. The model is the product of an ongoing MIT Sea Grant project, sponsored by a consortium of government and industry organizations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Spill Control Association of America, JFB Scientific Corporation, the Doherty Foundation, Petro-Canada and Texaco.

The model can be used, among other things, in strategic planning for the long-term oil spill response needs of a region, in assisting On Scene Coordinators in responding to a specific spill (tactical/operational setting), in evaluating the environmental and economic damages of a spill versus the cost of cleanup, in simulation and training, and in the analysis of various policy and regulatory issues such as the effects of delays, the use of dispersants and the investigation of liability and compensation issues.

The paper describes the model in detail, focuses on its potential uses and presents experience with its application in conjunction with pollution control efforts of the U.S. Navy. Specifically, we outline the application of the model in the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, an ongoing project sponsored by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. The difficulty of gathering data for such an application is discussed.